Image Credit: NBCAfter the current – and very low-rated – installment of The Apprentice ends its run, NBC could go with a three-hour block of comedies on Thursdays.
Sources told EW that the Peacock may shake up the lineup, with 30 Rock possibly moving to 10 p.m., to make way for the return of the critically-beloved Parks and Recreation and the new comedy Perfect Couples, which has been described as depicting “the misadventures of three engaging couples as they struggle to find out what makes the ideal relationship — and how to maintain it through humorous trial-and-error.” NBC’s other cult faves – The Office and Community - would likely remain in their timeslots, while Outsourced could go at 10:30 after 30 Rock. NBC would not comment, but the possibility of a lineup change certainly piqued the interest of the competing networks. Says one high powered suit, “They’ve got nothing to lose at this point.”
There’s still a chance that NBC could move a Law & Order into the important 10 p.m. timeslot on Thursdays since it owns a piece of the legal franchise, but a three-hour comedy block would create buzz and provide good counter-programming to the stiff competition from The Mentalist and Private Practice. And this wouldn’t be the first time that NBC ran six comedies. During the 1990-91 season, then-NBC topper Brandon Tartikoff scheduled Parenthood, Working it Out, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, Carol & Company and American Dreamer on Saturday nights.
Meanwhile, the current installment of The Apprentice has been a big disappointment for the Peacock. Though the network attempted to reboot the franchise to make it more applicable to the ailing economy, the show has hit historic lows this season. It ticked up on Nov. 11 (up 14 percent to a 1.6 rating/5 share among adults 18-49, and averaging 4.5 million), but NBC’s numbers were inflated because of an NFL game in Baltimore.
Oh, the good old days when a network actually programmed a Saturday night. Six sitcoms!
I loved me some Love Boat!
Hmmm, at least seakingloverzx isn’t lying to us. Although I am quite interested in meeting a hot army boss. Oh the choices!
If they do it, fingers crossed they put OUTSOURCED at one end of the block so I can completely avoid it. It would suck to keep it in the middle and throw off the awesome run of the other shows.
Outsourced is much better than I thought it would be – the culture clash is handled in a light, amusing way. Not a great show, but I’ve gotten more laughs from it recently than from The Office.
I agree with Rebecca.Outsourced is just awful. I liked the first couple of episodes, but now it’s just an unfunny mess. I hope that they put that and Perfect Couples in the last hour. Couples sounds like it’s been done numerous times before.
Outsourced is garbage. Bring back Parks!
Outsourced is starting out better than Parks did. Early parks episodes were staggeringly bad.
I felt the same way too, Outsourced is pretty funny and has some good moments, its not Parks and Recs funny but there is potential.
I’ve gotten more laughs at my grandmother’s funeral recently than from The Office.
Outsourced is a comedy that you’re sure to love – if you can see yourself saying things like:
- “Look, those people are re-enacting a scene from Glengarry Glen Ross – and they have Indian accents! Foreigners sure do talk funny, don’t they?”
- “This company sells things like fake dog poop and cheesehead hats! They actually have to talk about those things when they do their JOBS! How wacky can you get?!?!”
- “I don’t care how many times I hear the name Manmeet, I still laugh every single time I hear it!”
I’m really enjoying Outsourced, especially lately now that the cast has had a chance to develop some chemistry. I’ve found Madhuri in particular to often be hilarious. Also I’m pretty sure Eric only watched the first episode. Most of the humor now comes from the characters, not the premise.
I think that might make sense. I was hoping that Community would move to a later time – I was sure that it would make its numbers go up and thus prevent cancellation – but I try to avoid Outsourced and this would make it easier.
I was also hoping “Community” would run later. It premiered at 9:30 and grabbed a bigger audience.
I’m also on the move Community to later train. I wish Community were on at 8:30 at least. After The Big Bang Theory.
They need to cancel that garbage. Too many Americans have lost their jobs due to outsourcing. Thank you President Nobama!!
It actually hit it stride during the Bush Administration, idiot.
Actually Barry to correct you, more people have lost their jobs during the OBAMA Administration than GW.
Because of the state GW left the economy in, dingus
Could it be because Obama landed the job smack into one of the biggest economic crisis the world has ever seen? Could it?
No, it’s because Nobama & his so called experts know next to nothing about Economics. He proved that this week when he failed to sign any type of trade agreements with Asian countries.
Or could it be that the vast majority of big corporations prefer saving lots of money by paying people in other nations far, far less than they’d have to pay their own countrymen? I mean, you could try to blame the President of any era, when the simple fact is, Big Business can pay people in places like India or the Philippines a comparative pittance to do the work.
The difference is, in some countries, $500/month is practically a king’s ransom.
So, while you’re blaming various politicians, it’s really Capitalism that has failed you – Corporations cut the jobs, so there’s less money to go around. They don’t want to take pay cuts at the executive level, so they cut more jobs. So there’s even less money to go around…
And yes, I certainly don’t envy Obama’s timing, nor the fact that not only do a lot of Americans demand a nearly-impossible quick fix, but that half of them actively want him to fail more than they want America to succeed.
Thank you Jason. Less president bashing, more greedy business bashing please.
And more Outsourced and $#*! My Dad Says bashing.
Outsourced is growing on me. I didn’t like Parks & Rec at first either but both shows started out too loosey-goosey but the characters have been defined and the writing has gotten more distinct. Neither shows are about clueless bosses in an office full of stereo-types anymore.
you know that you can even read a book, take a walk, write your own tv show, do you?
I love Outsourced. I’ll watch it no matter the timeslot. It’s a funny show, if you give it a chance.
as long as parks and rec comes back, then ill be happy
I’m with you. I love that show!
One word. YES. And I agree w/ Rebecca, move Outsourced away from Office/P&R and Community so I can avoid it.
I’d be ok w/ P&R moving to another night too, just as long as it’s back!
Outsourced is after The Office not 30 Rock. And for the record I like Outsourced it keeps me laughing and entertained. If you don’t like it don’t watch it that simple.
I’m with you. The show is very funny. It reminds me of how funny ‘the office’ used to be. I think people just don’t want to give it a chance because of the whole outsourcing concept. Oh well, they’re missing a great show.
Outsourced is a good show. Stop parroting what critics tell you, drones. On the subject of the story, I think it would be an interesting move and an experiment worth paying attention to. If it works, other networks could follow suit. I still think NBC should do a smaller comedy block and time share an hour, but we shall see.
I have no idea what the critics have said. I watched Outsourced once…once! For 15 minutes. No thanks.
Only 15 minutes? Clearly there’s your problem. Parks & Recreation sucked for an entire season 1 before it got its groove in Season 2. Outsourced has been getting better episode after episode since its bland pilot episode. Honestly, 30 Rock has been the least funny show of the 4 this year and it used to be terrific.
Blasphemy. This is 30 Rock’s best season since 2.
Don;t listen to what Mondo says, Sara; I gave Outsourced another try later in the season and it was as bad as the first. This whole season is disappointing in regards to new shows, whether comedy or drama. Everything has been below my expectations, and that has nothing to do with the critics.
Unless you and Sarah know each others personal taste, I can’t see how her 15 minutes is comparable to your multiple viewings. Comedy is subjective and more then a few people have expressed a shift in view on the quality of the show. And, Doug, sorry mate. I do still watch it though. Just not delivering the laughs like it used to for me. Oh well.
Interestingly, Outsourced’s pilot is its weakest. But after that, it has become better and funnier. I was annoyed by Rajiv at first, but he is now the star of the show. Gupta is also endearingly funny, and also Mahduri in her own silent way. Hahaha…
I find myself watching Outsourced simply because I like the actors and the characters they play… however, it’s not funny at all.
I completely agree with this. Outsourced has its moments that are funny, but I really only stick around because I enjoy the cast. I think most of them would be better suited elsewhere though.
I think you hit it. I do find myself laughing occasionally but not much but I do like the cast and characters. The cultural differences are more interesting than funny (and I admit I love the theme song at the beginning).
Snsetblaze, you should watch the movie that inspired the show. WONDERFUL sound track.
Sorry dude- Outsourced is horrible. I gave it three episodes and never laughed once. Community, on the other hand, is so funny I often have to pause it because I miss jokes from laughing too hard.
The Office is just about done too. They really need to rethink continuing without Michael…
And I’m the opposite, I have occasionally laughed at Outsourced and like the characters and acotrs but other than one joke with a cartoon wall and Danny Pudi’s character, I have yet to laugh at Community. I usually walk away annoyed that I just spent 1/2 hour on it.
I agree @ Community. The shows jokes and references are so funny and come so fast I often have to rewind to hear them all.
Ähm, didn’t they exchange Kyle Howard with Kyle Bronheimer durching the whole ‘Well TBS could extend My Boys’-Fiasco that also cost Jordana Shapiro her Job on Love bits? Or have they reversed that decision when My Boys got scrapped?
Ups, Jordana Spiro, not Shpiro.
I’m with everyone on putting Outsourced at the end but there is an audience out there for it. At the end of the day its about getting ratings so I would keep Outsourced where it is, have 30 Rock open the night since the fanbase follows it everywhere and be a better lead in for Parks & Rec. Have Community air after Outsourced in hopes of better ratings and away from TBBT with Perfect Couples closing the evening.
30 Rock
Parks & Rec
The Office
Outsourced
Community
Perfect Couple
Losing interest in The Office so can’t wait for Parks & Rec and will give Perfect Couples a try.
That would be difficult for me as I would be watching every other show and stymied as to what else I can find during the second half of the hour. My night would be: watch 30 Rock, go read a book, watch The Office, do laundry, watch Community, go surf the net. I’d give Perfect Couple a try or two, although it sounds like Friends and I despised that show.
“Sounds like Friends”? Ugh.
That might not be a bad thing. You’d get stuff done. That’s more than I can say on a Thursday.
There aren’t a whole lot of people watching Outsourced, so if they ended the night with that and Community, a lot of people would turn their TVs off after The Office. And I don’t care what happens to Outsourced, but I will not have Community off the air! They should give it a boost by putting it between The Office and 30 Rock; fans of those two tend to appreciate the humor, but they need to be lead to it first.
Check the ratings….more people are watching Outsourced than Community and 30 Rock. Of course, that is mainly because it is following The Office which gets NBC’s largest rating for the night. And I too love Parks and Rec, but I believe Outsourced is generating better ratings than it did and possibly better or as good of ratings as 30 Rock did in that slot. (I enjoy all five shows including P&R for what it is worth and want them all to succeed.)
I’m with everyone on putting Outsourced at the end but there is an audience out there for it. At the end of the day its about getting ratings so I would keep Outsourced where it is, have 30 Rock open the night since the fanbase follows it everywhere and be a better lead in for Parks & Rec. Have Community air after Outsourced in hopes of better ratings and away from TBBT with Perfect Couples closing the evening.
30 Rock
Parks & Rec
The Office
Outsourced
Community
Perfect Couples
Losing interest in The Office so can’t wait for Parks & Rec and will give Perfect Couples a try.
Bring back Parks and Recreation NOW!
Even though you all don’t like Outsourced (and probably never have watched a single episode) it is funny AND it is drawing bigger ratings than 30 Rock and Community…so why would NBC move it just b/c you don’t want to watch it? Not smart…
It’s only drawing bigger ratings than the two shows because of The Office lead-in and even then, it is marginally better than 30 Rock this week. Waste of a lead-in really especially considering Community & 30 Rock are up against much fiercer competition.
Because it is only doing better because of the office lead-in. Based on quality, they can hold on to more of the office viewers with the other shows. 30 rock did better in the 9.30 spot than Outsourced does now.
%$#@ My Dad Says has been scoring double (DOUBLE!) the ratings that 30 Rock has been getting and that show is probably one of the worst new shows to get greenlit for a full season. If you think quality is going to help 30 Rock get higher ratings after The Office, just look back at how its started to flounder during its 4th season.
Are you intentionally not looking at context? The only reason why __ My Dad Says is getting double the ratings is because of its HUGE lead in that is TBBT.
And even when it started to ‘flounder’ in its 4th season, 30 Rock was still doing better than Outsourced following The Office.
Why assume we haven’t watched it, when many of us have stated we did watch it and didn’t like it? I was presupposed to like the show because I thought it was based on the movie, and that was great….I am happy that so many Asians have gained employment with this one show as most comedies seem to lack diversity but…the writing seems below their talents.
In fact, reading all the comments here, Outsourced got the most comments. People are actually watching this show because it is funny!
Community also got good ratings when it was on after The Office like Outsourced is getting now.
Community was never on after The Office.
outsourced is a super funny show, anyone who says different has the sense of humor of a wall
So you dislike and disparage anyone with an opinion different than yours? You must be a lot of fun to hang out with.
I take offense to that. My wall happens to be VERY funny! It just happens to have a “dry” sense of humor.
I just made the same joke but didn’t notice yours until after the fact. Needless to say, I got it, Joe. I don’t think many people will.
That made me laugh.
My wall has a dry sense of humor.
Ha, ha- Sauce, great minds think alike. Rock on!
To me, I’d rather watch the wall than Outsourced…
I also like Outsourced.
Thank you! Fans like us should be vocal about this. NBC should know that this show has a following.
NBC still needs to boost more ratings and it’s still not enough but the Thursdays night comedies also needs BOOST. CBS, FOX and ABC are going to give up sooner rather than later.
As a huge 30 Rock fan, I am surprisingly ok with it being at 10 pm so that people can stop getting their panties in a twist about their risque jokes. Hopefully Parks and Rec will be it’s lead in at 9:30 so that we can have a consistent hour of good comedy every week.
I’ll watch 30 Rock wherever it goes.